'Smurfs 2': B.J. Novak makes a random guest smurfpearance

Sony Pictures Animation

This publicity image released by Sony Pictures Animation shows from left, Vexy, voiced by Christina Ricci, Smurfette, voiced by Katy Perry and Hackus, voiced by J.B. Smoove, in a scene from the film "Smurfs 2."

This publicity image released by Sony Pictures Animation shows from left, Vexy, voiced by Christina Ricci, Smurfette, voiced by Katy Perry and Hackus, voiced by J.B. Smoove, in a scene from the film "Smurfs 2." (Sony Pictures Animation)

Steven Zeitchik

Sony Pictures has brought out “Smurfs 2,” a return to the world of the trait-happy blue creatures with a dose of (largely Paris-set) live action. Many of the faces and voices will be immediately recognizable — Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria for the real-people parts and Katy Perry and the late Jonathan Winters for the animated ones.

But there are also a host of names you wouldn’t expect — Shaq, Shaun White, Jimmy Kimmel, even the wedding planner Kevin Lee. As George Lopez succinctly put it to my colleague Amy Kaufman at the premiere this week, “Every celebrity you can think of is in this. Even Mario Lopez.”

With this in mind, we took time to talk to some of the less expected actors who lent their voice to the franchise. (Just call us Curious Smurf.) Here’s the first, a chat with B.J. Novak of “The Office" fame, in this franchise playing Baker Smurf.

Movies Now: I was just debating with a colleague whether Smurfette is of the Smurf lineage. Because she was part of them but clearly had a different, um, DNA? It seems like something that could be a TED Talk. Surely you have thoughts on this.

B.J. Novak: It’s a very interesting question. I would definitely give a TED Talk on it. But what I’ve found with the Smurfs world is you don’t want to look too closely. If you do, you will find some very — let’s just say some very troubling tautologies.

MN: It’s a philosophical minefield to be sure. What made you so interested in the Smurfs?

BJN: Well, I was working on "The Office" a few years ago and I heard they were making a Smurfs movie. And I thought, ‘Wow, I’d love to write that.’

MN: Really? I wouldn’t imagine that to be a career goal.

BJN: I think I just liked how it reminded me of the characters on "The Office." Stanley’s kind of Grouchy Smurf, and Jim’s kind of Jokey Smurf. Michael is Papa Smurf, which I think he even said in an episode once. I like the idea of everyone being a type.

BJN: They were intrigued by my enthusiasm but said I was too late. It was already written. So I said, "What about a part?" And they said, "All we have left is the baker." I have no connection to baking. But I said OK.

MN: Because you enjoyed the idea of a pastry-related improv?

BJN: Well, the way it works is that they show you animation of your character and they say "improvise off this." You could do whatever you want, but it has to be no more than four seconds. So they were not my most cerebral improvisations. But they were my most expressive and on-point.

MN: What kind of jokes did you come up with?

BJN: I had some good cooking jokes, but Wolfgang Puck was already playing Chef Smurf. So it was like, improvise whatever you want but don’t step on Chef Smurf.

MN: Well, you were saying that to kindergartners for years before that.

BJN: A little bit.

MN: Do the kindergartners appreciate your Smurfs part?

BJN: They do. They don’t really know my other roles. They don’t really know "Inglourious Basterds." Well, most of them don’t.

MN: Why are you talking to kindergartners anyway?

BJN: I’m actually writing a movie set in a kindergarten. It’s something for the R-rated comedy age. It’s PG, but it has that sensibility. I’m still working on the through-line, but I’m trying to get a lot of the scenes. It’s a pure comedy.

MN: So it’s basically "Kindergarten Cop" without the cop.

BJN: You know I just watched that movie again. Have you seen it recently? It’s really weird. It really should be Arnold and the kids. But most of it is about the gun and the bad guys.

MN: Interesting. But let’s go back to "The Office" for a second. Who would your character, Ryan, be in Smurf Village?